Tool with attachment for collecting debris and method of using the same

a technology of tools and debris, applied in the field of tools for collecting debris, can solve the problems of difficult collection and efficient inserting of garbage receptacles, wet garden debris, etc., and achieve the effect of simplifying the collection and disposal of debris

US8641111B2Inactive Publication Date: 2014-02-04LEE GORDON
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Patents(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2014-02-04
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

An attachment to a shovel having a shovel head and a handle is provided, converting the shovel into a tool for collecting debris. The attachment has a clamping head and a pivot arm shorter than the shovel handle, and a pivot for attaching the attachment to the shovel handle. The attachment is movable between a closed position when the shovel head and the clamping head are juxtaposed face to face forming a tunnel therebetween, and an open position when the shovel head and the clamping head are spaced apart. In operation, the clamping head is moved into an open position to collect debris, and then moved into a closed position towards the shovel head to secure the debris, followed by rotating the tool by 90° plus an offset angle, thereby causing the clamping head to open under its weight and the debris to fall through the tunnel.
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Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present patent application claims benefit from the U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 327,457 filed on Apr. 23, 2010 for “Gardening Tool Attachment, and Gardening Tool and Method of Using the Same”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to tools for collecting debris, and in particular, to a gardening tool with attachment for collecting debris, and a method of using the gardening tool, for example, for assisting in the cleanup of garden debris including leaves.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Cleaning debris, including garden debris, is a physical chore, often involving manual labour such as raking leaves and twigs, picking them by hand or shovel, and dumping into a garbage receptacle. The garden debris is often wet, difficult to collect and insert into the garbage receptacle efficiently and accurately because of the small opening of the gar...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0073]An embodiment of the present invention is further described with the reference to FIGS. 1a, b.

[0074]FIG. 1a shows a side view of a conventional snow shovel 2 having a shovel head 4 and a shovel handle 6. The shovel handle 6 has a distal end 7 and a proximal end 9, the distal end 7 and the proximal end 9 defining a handle axis 1. The shovel head 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an upper edge 3 and a lower edge 5.

[0075]If the shovel handle 6 has a shape of a cylindrical rod as shown on FIG. 1a, the handle axis 1 substantially coincides with the axis of the cylindrical rod. However, there are shovel models with shovel handles of more complex shape, for example, a shovel handle having a combination of several straight and curved sections. In this case, the above definition of the handle axis 1 through the distal end 7 and the proximal end 9 of the shovel handle 6 applies.

[0076]FIG. 1b shows a side view of an attachment to the tool for collecting debris according to th...